His Majesty the Emperor's New Year Thoughts

1991 New Year Greeting by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan

The past year started with the first anniversary of the passing of Emperor Showa and ended with various functions related to the Enthronement Ceremony. I am grateful that all those functions were carried out smoothly with the cooperation of a large number of people.

The past year, as we look back upon it, has indeed been an eventful one, at home and abroad. At home, there were also a number of natural calamities, and I regret very much that more than 90 people lost their lives, owing to local downpours, typhoons and a tornado.

I wish the New Year may be a happy and peaceful one for our people and for the people of the world.